IGARRA – THE Otaru of Igarra, HRH Oba Emmanuel Adeche Saiki II has denied reports that he made a donation of one million naira to the campaign funds of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu when he visited Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State to seek royal blessings.
A statement signed by five palace chiefs of Akoko- Edo which are Odovidi Okomayin, Okomayin Ojo; Oseh, Chief D. A. Ojo; Okomayin, Okomayin Obende; Emah, Emma Adebayo and Ukana Agumagu, Ezekiel Ukanah said Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP visited the palace just like Ize-Iyamu and the APC did for royal blessings.
They said the Otaru of Igarra is non-partisan and he is open to all political parties and politicians.
The statement said some headlines reading “Igarra monarch donates N1m to Ize-Iyamu” was misleading as the said donor did that in his private capacity adding that the donor, which the statement referred to as Joseph Mayaki Akpeji is not the traditional ruler of Igarra.
Part of the state read: “It should be pointed out that Joseph Mayaki Akpeji is someone who holds himself out as the Otu of Igarra. By law, the title of Out of Igarra is a minor chieftaincy exclusive to the Anona family of Igarra and over which the Otaru of Igarra is the prescribed authority (as the Otaru is the Prescribed Authority over the entire Igarra/Akuku Clan). It should be noted that Eziobe Traditional Council is not known to Igarra tradition and Chieftaincy laws of Edo State.
“For a fact, Joseph Mayaki Akpeji and a few other persons are challenging the legality of the law as it stands in suit no. B/553/2008. In the same suit, the Otaru of Igarra has himself challenged the validity of Akpeji’s claim to be the Otu of Igarra on the basis” that his purported nomination was never forwarded to the Otaru for approval.
“Suffice it to say however that Joseph Mayaki Akpeji is not a traditional ruler, much less being the traditional ruler over Igarra”
“We therefore wish to set the records straight and state that the Otaru of Igarra is non-partisan and wishes all candidates well.
“His palace is open to all and sundry, more pointedly, the Otaru did not and could not have donated any money to any political cause whatsoever.
“Such is inconsistent with his status as the Royal Father to all political tendencies in Igarra (Etuno) Nation, please, be properly guided”, the statement concluded
They said the mis-information was deliberately sent by mischief makers who want to use the publication to “denigrate the stool of Otaru of Igarra and the occupier of that stoll, HRH Oba Emmanuel Adeche Saiki II (JP), and seek to expose him to public odium and ridicule”
